Go to the mayor house, up the satires and get the second companion Johan. After that forget about combat for a bit, the city is filled with free exp. You just have to talk to every one and explore the city.
After you pick all the quests from the city and there is butt load of them, leave through the north exit and keep going north. Easiest path for combat at the start. The exit I'm talking about only got guards at it without an actual door
